(Un)recognition
BY GAYBIRD
This work makes use of image recognition in artificial intelligence (AI) as an allusion to human memory. One photo is picked from each year of Hong Kong’s history from its colonial beginning to the present (1841-2022), and objects in the 181 photos are identified through a machine learning programme. As some of the images were captured over a century ago with low resolution, fewer objects are identified through AI which alike human finding antiquated memories relatively vague. The identified objects are turned into computer language and subsequently evolved into sound. When the 181 photos with AI processing collaged together, the overall image resembles a chronological map of Hong Kong. Can you recognise Hong Kong from this map?
GayBird
GayBird is a Hong Kong composer and media artist. He graduated from the City University of Hong Kong with a MPhil in creative media and from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a MA in music composition and electro-acoustic music. Since 1996, he has started working in the Hong Kong music industry and arts scene.
His sound installation works have been exhibited in art festivals around the world including Ars Electronica Festival (Austria), OzAsia Festival (Australia), Digital Art Festival (Greece), EXIT Festival (France), Digital Performing Arts exhibition (Taiwan) and ifva Everywhere (Hong Kong). Recently, his sound installation Fidgety won the 3D/Interactive Award in the renowned Lumen Prize for Art and Technology in the UK.
GayBird’s innovative projects in recent years have allowed him to connect the architecture, media installation, visual art in live performances. He was commissioned by M+ museum to create a site-specific performance 18 Ways to Create or Mute Sound. He collaborated with the award-winning film director Tsai Ming-Liang in the visual music performance One Zero. He was commissioned by the Hong Kong Visual Art Centre in taking their 100-year-old heritage site for the work – 18 Scenes in a Cage, and Emergency Kit and Wishing Pool which was set at a swimming pool.
